Mine car



March 29, 1932. R. E. DENDLER MINE CAR Filed May 1, 1931 Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH E. IDENDLEB, OF BERWICK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY MINE CAB Application filed May 1,

This invention relates generally to mine cars adapted for bottom dumping of the lading and hence provided with drop bottom doors, and has particular reference to supporting means for the doors.

- provide a recess for accommodating the latch element-s and their supporting means.

Still another object ofthis invention is the provision of a latch means for supporting a drop bottom door for a railway car, togethei with a releasable locking elemenafor normally retaining the latch means in door supportmgposition.

Other 0 jects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of a mine car showin the present invention applied thereto.

ig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 22, Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3,

Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the latch mechanism in a position which it assumes as the door is being urged to closiiig position. H

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shown applied to a mine car having a body indicated generally at A which is supported by axles 2,carried by wheels 4, the axles'being shown as extending through the longitudinal sills 6, though this is merely by way of example, as obviously the axles may be arranged in a plane lower than the sills if desired. The

- longitudinal sills 6 are connected at their ends by an outwardly facing channel end sill 8. The body A includes side walls 3 and end walls 5 of which latter only one is shown and 1931. Serial No. 534,340.

as illustrated clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, the end wall 5 is not secured to the end sill 8, but is spaced therefrom to provide an area in which the door latching mechanism may be arranged, as more fully described hereinafter.

The body A is provided with a plurality of drop bottom doors, of which only the rear door 10 is shown, the latter being hingedly connected, as shown at 12, to a bracket 14 and at a point in a plane lower than the horizontal axle 2. The (door 10 is arranged for swinglng movement on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body and the door. comprises a pan-shaped structure having a bottom 15 and side walls 16 which lap the sills 6 when the door is in closed position. The forward or free end of the door is upwardly and outwardly bent as shown at 18 and the edge thereof is outwardly extended as at 20 to provide a supporting flange for engagement with spaced latch elements indicated generally at B and which form parts of a latch casting C pivotally mounted on a pin 22 arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the end sill 8 and supported by spaced ears 24 of a bracket 26 secured to the outer surface of the adjacent fixed end wall 5 of the car body. As before mentioned, the end wall 5 is spaced from the end sill 8 and said end wall is connected in any suitable manner to the sills 6 and is stiffened intermediate its side edges by means of spaced diaphragms 30 secured to the end sill 8 and to said end wall 5 by suitable fasteners 31. From the description thus far it can be seen that the latch mechanism, more specifically described hereinafter, is not connected to the end sill of the car, but is wholly carried by the end wall 5 and is positioned in the space defined between the end sill 8 and said end wall, the end wall being stiffened by the before mentioned diaphragms 30.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the bracket 26 is substantially U-shaped in plan and the ears 24 extend or project from the arms 32 thereof to support the pin 22 in a position parallel tothe end wall 5. The bracket 26 is secured to the end wall by suitable fasteners such as the rivets 34 and is arranged adjacent an.

and having the latch elements B secured thereto and preferably formed integral therewith. The latch elements comprise recessed projections defining spaced jaws 40 and 42, respectively, adapted for cooperation with the flange 20 of the door 10; the jaws 42 of the respective latch elements providing supporting elements for the door to retain the same in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. Also formed with the sleeve and projecting therefrom is a rib 44, the ends of which are provided with thickened areas 46 and 48, respectively, for stiffening purposes, and said thickened portion 48 defines an abutment or stop for cooperation with a vertically arranged latch lock 50 in the form of a bar shiftable vertically between guides 52 formed with the bracket 26. The lock 50 is connected at itsupper end by a bolt 54 to a lever 56 pivotally secured to a bracket 58 to the end wall 5, the lever 56 extending beyond the side of the car in a position to engage a ramp or the like arranged adjacent the track whereby to swing the lever and elevate the lock 50. As clearly shown in the drawings, the lock 50 is normally urged downwardly by resilient means such as a spring 60 interposed between a bracket 62 secured to the end wall 5 and the head of the bolt 54 and said spring 60 encircles a pin 66 supported by the bracket 62 and extending downwardly through the head of bolt 54.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the lock 50 normally retains the latch casting C in a position such that the latch elements support the door 10 ;the lower end of the lock 50 engaging against the stop 48. Shifting of the lever 56 upwardly will obviously lift the lock 50 until its end clears the upper end of the stop 48 and the door 10 may drop to dumping position and be freed from its engagement with'the latches; the latch casting C turning on the pin 22 and the end of the lock 50 riding along the rib 44 until it engages in a transversely arranged notch 68, as shown in Fig. 4. The latch elements then remain in the position shown in Fig. 4 until the doors 10 are urged to closed position by any suitable means such as devices arranged between the track rails and which are well known in the art, and the flange 20 of the door 10 will engage against the jaw 40 and swing the latch casting C on pin 22 and free the lock 50 from its engagement in the notch 68 the latch casting C swinging on pin 22 until the lock 50 can assume its normal position, such as shown in Fig. 2.

From the above description it is believed that the construction and operation of the device of the present invention will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art. The d awings herein are illustrativeonly and it is to be understood that various changes in the form and proportions of the device shown may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a mine car, side walls, longitudinal sills, an end sill connecting said longitudinal sills, an end wall spaced from the end sill, a transversely hinged bottom door, and latch mechanism supported by the end wall and having door engaging jaws extended through said wall for supportingthe door in closed position.

2. In a mine car, side walls, longitudinal sills, an end sill'connecting said longitudinal sills, and end wall extending between said side walls and spaced from the end sill, diaphragms connecting said end sill and end wall, a transversely hinged bottom door, and latch mechanism arranged between said diaphragms and pivotally connected to the end wall and having portions extended through the latter for engaging the free end of the door to support said door in closed position.

In a mine car, Wall spaced from the end'sill, a transversely hinged bottom door, latch mechanism pivotally secured to the end wall in the space between said end Wall and end sill and project-' ing through the Wall to engage the free, end of the door, and vertically shiftable latch locking means cooperating with the latch means for normally retaining the latter in door supporting position.

4. In a mine car, an end sill, a fixed end Wall spaced therefrom, a drop bottom door, diaphragms connecting said end sill and end wall, a bracket secured to said end wall in the space between said end sill and end wall, a latch element pivotally mounted in said bracket and having jaw portions extending through said end wall and adapted to support the door in closed position, a lever pivoted to the end wall, and a latch lock pivotally connected to the lever and having its lower end in cooperative relation with the latch element to normally retain the latter in door supporting position, said lock being shiftable upon operation of the lever to be disengaged from the latch element to permit swinging of the latter to release the door for dumping.

5. The combination with a car bod comprising an end sill, a transversely inged drop bottom door, a fixed end wall spaced from the end sill, latch means pivotally secured to the end wall on a horizontal axis and arranged between the end sill and end wall and adapted to engage said door to support the latter, said latch means includin an' abutment, and vertically shiftable loc ring means with which said abutment engages to retain the latch means in door supporting position.

an end sill, a fixed end 6. In a mine car, a body including a fixed end wall, an end sill spaced from said end wall, stiffening elements connecting said end sill and end wall, a transversely hinged drop bottom door, latch means for normally supporting the door in closed position comprising a bracket secured to the end wall, a latch element pivotally connected to the bracket and having portions extending through said end wall for engagement with the door to support the latter in closed position, said latch means including an abutment, and a vertically shiftable latch lock guided by the bracket and with which saidabutment engages to normally retain the latch means in door supporting position.

7. In a mine car, a body including an end wall, a transversely hinged drop bottom door, latch means pivotally secured to the end wall formovement on a horizontal axis and normally engaged with the free edge of the door to support the latter in closed position, said latch means including an abutment, a latch lock with which said abutment normally engages to retain the latch means in door supporting position, lever means for shifting said latch lock out of engagement with said abutment to permit pivotal movement of the latch means to disengage the latter from said door, and means formed with the latch means for limiting the pivotal movement of the latter when the locking means is disengaged from theabutment.

8. In a mine car, an end sill, a fixed end wall spaced from the end sill, a transversely hinged drop bottom door adapted to be urged to closed position during movement of the car by means arranged in the path of movement of said car and with which said door engages, latch means pivotally secured to the end wall in the space between said end sill and end wall and normally engaged with the free edge of the door to support said door n closed position, said latch means includlngan abutment, a latch lock with which said abutment is normally engaged to retain the latch means in door supporting position, means for shifting the latch lock to disengage the same from the abutment to permit pivotal movement of the latch means and disengagement of thedoor therefrom whereby the door falls to dumping position, and means formed with the latch means to limit pivotal movement of the latter to a position such that when the door is urged to closed position it will contact with said latch means to force the latter into door supporting position and eifect engagement of the abutment with said latch lock. 7

9. In a mine car, an end wall, a transversely hinged bottom door, and means for supporting the door in closed position comprising a latch casting pivotally secured to the end wall for movement on a horizontal axis, said latch casting including spaced recessed members each defining upper and lower aws, a latch lock, said latch casting also including an abutment normally engaging the lock to retain the casting in door supporting position, means for shifting the lock out of engagement with the abutment to permit disengagement of said casting and door, means formed with the casting to retain the lock in shifted position and to limit the pivotal movement thereof in one direction, the casting being adapted to be engaged by said door as the latter is being moved to closed positionwhereby to swing said casting on its pivot and disengage the lock from its last-named retaining means.

10. A latching means for drop bottom doors of railway cars comprising a bracket, a latch casting pivotally secured to the bracket and having door engaging jaws, a latch lock, an abutment formed with the casting and normally engaging the lock for retaining the jaws in door supporting position, said lock being shiftable to be disengaged from the abutment, and a retaining element formed with the casting to maintain the lock in its shifted position.

11. A latching means for drop bottom doors of railway cars comprising a bracket, a latch element pivotally secured to the bracket and having door engaging jaws, a latch lock, an abutment formed with the casting normally engaging the lock for retaining the jaws in door supporting position, spring means urging the latch lock' into cooperation with said latch element, said latch lock being shiftable to be disengaged from the abutment, and a retaining element formed with the casting to maintain the lock in its shifted position.

'12. A latch means for dro bottom doors of railway cars comprising a racket, a latch element pivotally secured to the bracket and having door engaging jaws, a latch lock, an abutment formed with the casting normally engaging the lock for retaining the jaws in door supporting position, spring means urging the. latch look into cooperation with said latch element, said latch lock being shiftable to be disengaged from the abutment to permit swinging of the latch element on its pivot, a retaining element formed with the casting to maintain the lock in shifted position while the latch element is disengaged from a door, and means formed with the retaining element with which the lock cooperates to limit the pivotal movement of the latch element after it has been disengaged from a door.

13. A latching means for drop bottom doors of railways cars comprising a bracket, a latch element pivotally secured to the bracket and having jaws adapted to engage a door to support the latter in closed position, a latch lock guided by the bracket and adapted to normally engage a latch element part as v to retain the jaws indoor supporting position, said lock'being shiftable to be disen-m' gaged from said latch element part to permit pivotal movement of'said latch elementand' disengagement of the'door therefrom, a guide rib formed with the casting and with which said lock engages after disengagement from the latch element part to retain said lock in its shifted position, and means on the guide rib for engagement by said lock to limit movement of the latch element when the latter is swung on its pivot to permit dumping of the door.

14. A latching means for drop bottom doors of railway cars comprising a bracket, a latch element pivotally secured to the bracket and having door engaging jaws, a latch lock guided by the bracket and adapted to normally engage a latch element part to retain the jaws in door supporting position, lever means pivotally secured to the car for shifting the lock to permit swinging of the latch element to free the aws from door supporting position, resilient means urging the look into cooperativerelation with said latch element,

a guide rib with which said lock engages when released from the aforesaid latch element part to retain said lock in its shifted position and means on said guide rib for cooperation with said lock to limit swinging movement of said latch element.

15. In amine car, side sills, an end sill, a fixed end wall spaced from the end sill, a transversely hinged drop bottom door, means for supporting the door in closed position comprising a latch element pivotally connected to the end wall in the space between the end sill and end wall and in a plane between the top and bottom portions of the end sill, said latch element having door engaging jaws projecting through the end wall into door supporting position, a lever pivotally connected to the end wall, a latch lock pivoted to said lever and cooperating with the latch element to normally maintain the jaws in door supporting position, said lock being shiftable upon pivotal movement of the lever to free said look from the latch element to permit swinging movement of the latter and a consequent disengagement of the jaws from the door, and means on said latch element with wh ch said lock cooperates upon swinging movement of the latch element when the door is being dumped for limiting the swingi ing movement of the latch element.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RALPH E. DENDLER. 

